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| Schematic comparison of external morphology of some Jingophrys species. Jingophrys vegrandis group: (b) Jingophrys siangensis sp. nov., (c) Jingophrys tanogogo sp. nov., (d) J. vegrandis, (f) J. zhoui, (g) J. zhaoermii; J. pachyproctus group: (h) Jingophrys hrdy sp. nov., (i) J. pachyproctus, (j) Jingophrys taniitatii sp. nov., (k) Jingophrys wularsoni sp. nov. Garg, Biju, Tajo, Upadhyaya & Hanken, 2026 Illustrations: S. D. Biju |
Abstract
Jingophrys is a genus of Asian horned frogs known from six species with disjunct distributions in the Himalayas and Indo-Burma. By integrating evidence from molecular phylogeny, morphology and behaviour, we uncover five new species, recognize two distinct species groups, report two new country records for India and identify additional unnamed lineages. These additions constitute a seven-fold increase in the diversity of Indian Jingophrys and a more than two-fold increase for the genus overall. We also describe the first vocal repertoires of all eight Indian members, provide accounts of umbelliform tadpoles for three members and report a previously unknown snail-eating behaviour for the family Megophryidae. Present-day patterns of diversity and endemism may have been shaped by interplay between major rivers that subdivide the Eastern Himalayas from west to east and elevational range divergence at regional scales, which yields up to four congeners within a 10 km radius. The Himalayas are an overlooked and important centre of in situ diversification for frogs in the subfamily Megophryinae. Divergence timing, rapid diversification rates and biogeographical patterns across the large megophryine radiation are coincident with active Himalayan–Tibetan orogeny through the Late Oligocene and Miocene and intensification of the South Asian monsoon system starting around 10 Ma, in Late Miocene.
Keywords: amphibians, Asia, behaviour, biogeography, endemism, integrative taxonomy, Megophryidae, molecular evolution, new species, Northeast India
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| Schematic comparison of external morphology of all 11 recognized Jingophrys species. Jingophrys vegrandis group: (a, l) J. feii, (b, m) Jingophrys siangensis sp. nov., (c, n) Jingophrys tanogogo sp. nov., (d, o) J. vegrandis, (e, p) J. yeae, (f, q) J. zhoui, (g, r) J. zhaoermii; J. pachyproctus group: (h, s) Jingophrys hrdy sp. nov., (i, t) J. pachyproctus, (j, u) Jingophrys taniitatii sp. nov., (k, v) Jingophrys wularsoni sp. nov. In a–k, four features are arranged clockwise in each panel: skin granulations (body in dorsal view), colour and markings (body in ventral view), lateral markings and tubercles (head in lateral view) and snout shape (head in ventral view). In l–v, aspects of foot morphology are arranged clockwise in each panel: webbing and dermal extensions on toes (ventral view), projection of tubercle on toe tip IV (lateral view) and skin extension along toe IV (cross section). Illustrations: S. D. Biju. |
Jingophrys vegrandis group:
J. feii, Jingophrys siangensis sp. nov.,
J. tanogogo sp. nov., J. vegrandis, J. yeae,
J. zhoui, J. zhaoermii;
J. pachyproctus group:
Jingophrys hrdy sp. nov., J. pachyproctus,
J. taniitatii sp. nov., J. wularsoni sp. nov.
Sonali Garg; S. D. Biju; Tage Tajo; Radhakrishna Upadhyaya K. and James Hanken. 2026. Two-fold hidden diversity of diminutive horned frogs (Megophryinae: Jingophrys) highlights overlooked in situ diversification in the Himalayas. R. Soc. Open Sci. 13 (11): 261030. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.261030 [11 Nov 2026]
